Quilt No.1017LR - Lois Ryan

Lois Ryan
Owner: 
Lois Ryan
Location: 
WA Perth
Maker
Maker: 
Elizabeth Emma White
Made in
AUSTRALIA SA
Date: 
1901 - 1920
Description: 
Log Cabin quilt made from a variety of cottons and silks. There is no padding and the backing is calico bags. 1500 x 1250 mm.
History: 

Quilt made in 1910 in Swan Reach SA, by Elizabeth Emma White, for her grandson William Maurice Collins. It is now owned by his daughter Lois Ryan. The quilt has never been used as it was never finished.

Story: 

"The quilt belonged to my father. His name was William Maurice Collins. He was born 3rd November 1910 in Mannum, South Australia and died November 1996 in Kalamunda WA. It was made for him by his grandmother, Elizabeth Emma White in 1910 - the year that Dad was born. She made a quilt for each of her grandchildren - Dad had seven brothers and sisters and I'm not sure how many other grandchildren there were. Granny White was born in Australia on 8th May 1853 and died on 27th July 1940. Her parents came from England (they came from a family of lacemakers) but her father was a tailor in Australia. Apparently there were boats that carried fabric (and other supplies) up the Murray River and Granny White may have bought the materials from there to make her quilts - we don't know that. She lived out in the country just out of Swan Reach in South Australia." [Lois Ryan]

Lois Ryan with quilt
Lois Ryan with quilt

Related Quilts:

National Gallery of Australia
"This quilt follows the traditional hexagon patchwork pieced pattern, which are then joined and sometimes edged with a contrasting border. The edges of the quilt have been turned and then scalloped edges made of identical patches to the main body of the quilt have been attached to the edge. The quilt is fully lined, and the lining is visible front the front face through the gaps between the scalloped edge. The lining is attached to the patchwork with a row of stitches along the edges; there are no stitches in the centre field. The fabrics of the quilt are plain weave cotton in simple floral and geometric designs. Most of the fabrics are monochromatic. Several different colour ways of the same fabric are evident which could suggest some fabrics were from manufacturer samples. The lining is a William Morris print.
Each of the patchwork pieces (there are several thousand present) are sewn together with very fine overcasting stitches. The quilt is entirely hand sewn. There is some evidence that templates from the hexagon pieces possibly blotting paper, remain in situ���The quilt is not padded or quilted. The lining is fine twill weave cotton printed in pink and pale purple. The design follows William Morris's 'Strawberry Thief design'." [NGA] 2075 x 1911mm
The Queensland Women's Historical Assoc.
Frame quilt in cotton with cotton backing. Centre square of floral chintz surrounded by 8 smaller squares with floral and probably Egyptian motifs. 4 surrounding frames of plain and patterned cotton in squares, diamonds and strips. Hand stitched and hand quilted. Has been used as a curtain and has metal rings attached to one edge.
3759 x 2286mm
Helen Sparkman
Hexagon quilt made from dressmaking scraps from one neice. The quilt top only is complete and a few papers are still attached.
2250 x 2000mm
Margery Creek
Cotton quilt made in the USA. The pattern is 'Double Irish Chain'. It is machine pieced and hand quilted. The backing is calico and the padding is cotton,
2134 x 2134mm
Mrs Joan McGregor
Large and small pieces, mainly rectangles and mainly cottons, machine sewn. One side has replacement materials in red check, brown, tan, blue and pink materials. The padding is an old woollen blanket.
1950 x 1327mm
Kristine Gray
Double sided quilt. One side is frame with borders of wool rectangles mainly offcuts of men's suiting from tailors' shops. The other side is mainly flannelette in stripes and patterns similar to pyjama material. The padding is pieced patches of worn jumpers that were too matted to be unpicked. Machine construction.
1700 x 1490mm